Poultry singe device



June 8, 1954 CASTERLINE 2,680,801

POULTRY SINGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LESTER CAbTERLINE June 1954 CASTERLINE 2,680,801

POULTRY SINGE DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 76 f 95 9/ W 75 y/ INVENTOR. J LESTER CAsTERLmE Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in poultry singeing devices.

It is common practice to pass a completely plucked chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other poultry over on open flame of a gas stove or the like to burn away the minute feathers, hair and down which remain on the poultry after the larger feathers have been all plucked. Such practice has been found objectionable because the poultry is scorched if not moved rapidly enough and sometimes the hands of the person holding the poultry over the open flame are seriously burned if extreme care is not exercised to keep the parts of the hands out of the open flame.

The present invention proposes the construction of simple hand held electrically operated devices which can be used for burning away the minute feathers, hair and down which remain on a completely plucked chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other poultry, which devices will overcome the objections discussed in the paragraph above.

More specifically, the present invention proposes characterizing the poultry singeing devices by a handle arranged to be held in one hand and which has a pair of contact sockets connectable to a source of electric current exposed in one end thereof to be engaged by the contact prongs of a singeing member including a housing which mounts a resistance element which when energized will furnish the required heat to burn away the minute feathers, hair and down.

Another object of the present invention proposes arranging the contact prongs so that the mere act of inserting the prongs into the contact sockets will mount the singeing member in position on the handle and at the same time place the resistance element in series in the electric circuit to be energized.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing the hollow housing with an open side which exposes the resistance element so that as the housing is moved over the surface of the plucked poultry with the open side facing the poultry the minute feathers, hair and down which remain will be burned away.

The present invention further proposes a novel shutter arrangement for closing the open side of the housing in a manner to completely enclose the resistance element and prevent accidental contact of the fingers of the hands with the resistance element in the event the singeing device should be rested down with the current turned on.

A still further object of the present invention proposes mounting the resistance element on a pivotally mounted carrier within the hollow housing in a manner so that the carrier can be tilted if desired to move one side of the resistance element closer to the open side of the housing in a manner to more easily burn away any stubborn minute feathers, hair or down which might remain on the poultry.

Still another object of the present invention proposes providing the hollow housing with a single manually operable control for first moving the shutter to an open position and then pivoting the carrier if that should be desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide poultry singeing devices which are simple and durable, which are effective for their intended purposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the present disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a poultry singe ing device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the hollow hous ing per se looking at the open side thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '5 is a partial perspective view of the end of the handle normally adjacent the hollow housing.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the handle with one-half thereof removed.

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of the poultry singeing device constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional View of the hollow housing taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hollow housing taken on the line I0-l9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line H-!I of Fig. 9, but with the center portion thereof broken away.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged partial transverse sec- 55 tional view taken on the line [2-42 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial transverse sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line i l-l4 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 55-15 of Fig. 9.

The poultry 'singeing device, according to the first form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, includes a handle 26 molded of any desirable heat resistant, dielectric material and is comprised of two adjacent halves 2G and 2:? held in juxtaposition by a pair of nut and bolt assemblies 2! passed through suitable aligned holes formed in the halves of the handle 23. The adjacent faces of the halves it and 23 of the handle 28 are suitably cavitated to mount adjacent one end thereof a spaced pair'of contact sockets 22, see Fig. 6. The adjacent ends of the halves are formed with aligned semi-circular recesses which combine to form circular holes 23, see

particularly Figs. and 6, in alignment with the contact sockets 22. An electric cord 23 is extended into the handle it from the other end -20, there is a singeing member 2'! which is comprised of a hollow housing 28 which has one side open. The housing 28, as in the case or the handle 28, is molded of a heat resistant, dielectric material. It is preferred that the housing 28 be molded of porcelain but, if desired, any other similar heat resistant, dielectric material may be used.

The housing 28 is provided for being arranged in'end alignment with the end of the handle 23 having the holes 23. Mounted through the end wall of the housing 28 adjacent the handle 29, there is a spaced pair of contact prongs as which are provided intermediate of their ends with coilars 38 which abut the end of the housing 28. Internally, the contact prongs 29 are threaded and are fixed in position by means of nuts 31 threaded onto the inner ends of the contact prongs 28 and tightened against the inner face of the end wall of the housing 23. The spacing of the contact prongs 2Q matches the spacing of the holes 23 and the act of inserting the outer ends of the contact prongs 29 through those holes and into the contact sockets 22 causes the housing 23 to be mounted in position on the end of the handle 28 and also causes the contact prongs 2s to make electrical contact with the contact sockets 22.

Internally, the hollow housing 28 is divided into a plurality of adjacent passages 3'2 by spaced walls 33 integrally molded'with the housing 23. The center wall 33 extends from the end of the housing remote from the contact prongs 29 to a point spaced slightly from the end wall of the housing mounting the prongs. The outer walls extend from a point adjacent to the end wall of the housing remote from the contact prongs 29 to a point spaced slightly from the end wall of the housing -mounting the contact prongs, the same as the center wall 33. Positioned in the passages 32 serpentine fashion, there is an elongated resistance element 3A which has its two ends located adjacent the end wall of the hollow housing as which mounts the contact prongs 29. Those ends of the resistance element 3:1 are connected to the contact prongs 29 by means of nuts 35 which 4 clamp the ends against the nuts 31, see Figs. 2 and 4.

For retaining the resistance element as in posi tion within the passages 32, the walls 33 are formed with projections 35 which extend partially across the respective passages 32 looking the resistance element in position therein. The opposite walls of the respective passages 32 are formed with notches Jl which are aligned with the projections 36 and which permit the resistance element as to be forced into position in the passages 32 about the projections 33. The number or" projections 33 and aligned notches 31 can be increased or decreased as may be necessary to retain the resistance element 35 fixedly in position in the passages 32.

The operation of the singeing device is as follows:

With the singeing member 2'! mounted in position on the end of handle 26} as shown in Fig. 1, the plug 26 is inserted into the usual -outlet receptacle to furnish electric current required to energize the resistance element 34. A suflicient time is allowed for-the resistance element ll i'to heat up and then while grasping the singeing device by the handle '23 the open side or" the hollow housing 28 is passed over the surfaces of the plucked chicken, duck, turkey, goose or other poultry, so that the energized resistance element 34 will burn away the minute feathers, hair or down which remain on the poultry after all of the larger feathers have been plucked.

It is apparent that the present invention provides a singeing device which can be conveniently used in the home, but which is particularly well adapted for use by those commercial houses which prepare great numbers of poultry which are to be quick frozen and sold to the consumer as completely cleaned, ready to prepare poultry.

The modification of the invention shown in 7 to 15 is characterized by a modified form of singeing member it for use with the handle 29. The construction of the handle 2c is in all respects similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 except that the corner 26 is cut away, as shown in Fig. 7, for a purpose which will become clear as the specification proceeds.

The singeing member all is characterized by a hollow housing 41 arranged in end alignment with the handle 2s and which has one side open. The housing 4| is molded of a heat resistant, dielectric materialpreferably one of the synthetic resinous materials. However, the housing 4! can be made of metal, in which case suitable clectric insulation will have to be provided for the protection of the electric circuit parts, Due to the fact that the synthetic resinous materials have a tendency to remain somewhat cooler than the metals they are preferred, and it is appreciated that a thermosetting resin will have to be used.

The housing M is formed internally and closely adjacent its open side with an inwardly directed circumferential flange 42. Positioned within the housing 4! internally of the flange 42 there is a pivotally mounted carrier 43 molded of a heat resistant. dielectric material-preferably porcelain. The carrier is integrally molded with spaced walls 44 which divide off a serpentine passage es. The passage 45 opens on the side of the carrier 43 which faces the open side or the housing 4!. Positioned in serpentine fashion within the serpentine passage 45, there is an elongated resistance element 4% which is to be energized electrically. The resistance element is fixedly maintained in position within the passage 45 by means of projections 41 formed on the walls 43 of the carrier. The projections 41 extend across the passage 45 in alignment with complementary recesses 48 formed in the opposed walls 44 so that the resistance element 46 can be forced into position in the passage 45 past the projections 41.

The carrier 43 is pivotally supported to swing on the longitudinal axis of the housing 4| so that fixed trunnion 49, the carrier 43 is provided with a tubular trunnion 52 which slidably mounts a pin 53. The pin 53 is resiliently urged into an extended position by means of an expansion ,spring 54 contained within the tubular trunnion 52. The outer end of the spring urged pin 53 is turnably received within a hole 55 formed within the adjacent end wall of the housing 4|, see Fig. 11.

The carrier 43 is retained in a pivoted position parallel with the open side of the housing 4| by a means best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 13. That means comprises an extension 56 of the end wall of the housing 4|. Extending from the adjacent end of the carrier 43 there is a lug 51 which engages the end of the extension 56 from beneath, see Fig. 13. An arcuate leaf spring 58 has one end secured to the inner face of the adjacent side wall of the housing 4| by several spaced pins 59. The other end of the leaf spring 58 engages the lug 51 from beneath holding the same in position against the extension 56. The carrier 43 is never pivoted so that the free end of the lug 51 passes the free end of the leaf spring 58.

Mounted through the end wall of the housing 4| adjacent the handle 26, there are spaced contact prongs 68 which are formed intermediate of their ends with fixed collars 6| which engage the the end wall of the housing 4| by means of nuts 62 threaded onto the inner ends of the contact prongs 66 and against the inner face of the end wall of the housing 4|. Insertion of the outer ends of the contact prongs 66 into the holes 23 in the adjacent end of the handle 26 automatically mounts the housing M in position on the end of the handle and places the contact prongs 66 in electrical contact with the contact sockets 22.

The two ends of the resistance element 46 are 7 I located at the end of the carrier 43 located adjacent the inner ends of the contact prongs 65.

,That end of the carrier 43 is formed with spaced against the nuts-62.. in this modification of the invention, the extended ends of the resistance element 46 are covered with a heat resistant insulation material from the points where they pass from the holes 63 to the point where they are connected to the inner ends of the contact prongs 66.

A shutter is provided for closing the open side of the housing 4| to cover the resistance element 46 and prevent ones fingers from accidentally coming in contact therewith if the singeing device should be put down with the current on. The shutter comprises an outer fixed shutter plate 65 and an inner movable shutter plate 66 superimposed on the flange 42 with the outer face of the outer shutter plate 65 flush with the edges of the walls of the housing 4| defining the open side of the hollow housing, see Figs. 8 and 11. The outer shutter plate 65 is formed with longitudinally extended parallel slots 6? which are in alignment with the passages 45 of the carrier 43, which is best seen from Fig. 8. The inner shutter plate 65 which is of a width less than the width of the outer shutter plate 65 to provide clearance for shifting the inner shutter plate 66 laterally, is provided with longitudinally ex tended slots 68 which match the spacing of the slots 61 of the outer plate 65, but the slots 68 are normally out of alignment with the passages 45 of the carrier 43 and the slots 67, see Fig. 8. S-hifting of the movable inner shutter plate 66 laterally to the right, as it is viewed in Fig. 8, will bring the slots 68 into alignment with the slots 61 permitting the heat to pass from the resistance element 46 to the exterior of the housing 4| to burn away the remaining minute feathers, hair, and down which remain on the plucked poultry.

The shutter plates 65 and 66 are retained in position by means of screws 69, see Fig. 12, which are passed through holes 16 formed in the outer shutter plate 65 through elongated slots ii formed in the inner shutter plate 66 and then threaded into the flange 42. The flange 42 is cut away directly above the trunnions 49 and 52 of the carrier 43 so that the carrier can be mounted in position within the hollow housing 4| without obstruction from the flange. The screws 69 are threaded into the flange 42 on opposite sides of the cut away portion and the elongated slots 1| are extended laterally so that the inner movable shutter plate 66 will have freedom of lateral movement relative to the outer shutter plate 65.

The screws 65 are not so tightened into position that they function to hold the inner shutter plate 66 against the desired movement.

A single manually operable means is provided for first moving the inner shutter plate 66 to a position in which its slots 58 will be aligned with the slots 6? of the outer shutter plate 65 and for then pivoting the carrier 46 against the holding action of the arcuate leaf spring 56. That means includes an H-shaped operator member E2 positioned within the housing 4| inward oi the carrier 43, see Figs. to 11. The operator member '52 has parallel end arms 52 extended parallel to the end walls of the housing 4| and an integral cross piece 72*. Adjacent ends of the end arms li of the operator member F2 are extended slidably through complementary openings 13 formed in the adjacent side wall of the housing 45, see particularly Fig. 8. The other ends of the end arms ii are formed with enlarged heads l4. Expansion coil springs l5 positioned on the end arms H operate between the adjacent faces of the cross piece 72* and the side wall of the housrespective collar '58. function when the H-shaped operator member cams 3i.

Extending from the inner face of the movabble inner shutter plate 55 in alignment with the end arms w of the operator member '52, there are inwardly directed extensions 16 which have slots Ti extended in from their free inner ends, see

Fig. 15, so that those inner ends of the extensions 36 will straddle the end arms 22 at points spaced slightly from the enlarged heads it.

On the sides of the extensions Hi facing away from the enlarged heads 'l 'l, each of the end arms 72* is formed with an enlarged collar #8. A short expansion spring E9 is engaged on each of the end arms E2 and operates between the adjacent faces of the extension '56 and the enlarged collar '54 holding the extension T6 in position against the The expansion springs l9 i2 is first moved against the action of springs '15 to cause the movable inner shutter to to be moved to align ts slots 58 with the slots -61 of the outer fixed shutter plate es.

When lateral movement or the movable inner shutter plate 58 is arrested, by engagement of the right the housing ll; a position in which the slots E3 and 553 are in alignment-the operator member 12 is still free for further movement against the action of the springs "55 with such further movement acting to compress the springs '39.

That further movement of the operator member I? which causes compression of the spring it is then used for pivoting the carrier 43 against the action or" the arcuate leaf spring To ae ccmplish that pivoting, the end arms ar of the operator member F2 are formed with inwardly di rected extensions to which are in end alignment with each other and which are located between the collars i8 and the cross piece 52b. The inner ends of the extensions Bil are formed with cams Bi, see particularly Fig. 8, which are extended toward the inner face of the carrier 33. The inner face of the carrier 43 on the side of the trunnions 39 and 52 opposed to the side where the spring 53 is located, is formed with complementary earns 32 in lateral alignment with the During movement of the operator member 7.2 which causes compression of the ex pansion springs it, the cams ill will ride under the cams t2 and pivot the carrier 43 against the action of the spring 58. Movement of the operator member 2, under the influence of its springs 75, to move the cams 8! out of contact with the cams 82 will free the carrier 43 to be pivoted back to its starting position by the spring 58. During the time that the carrier 43 is pivoted, the resistance element 46 at one side of the carrier 43 will be moved closer to the inner shutter plate 66 making greater heat available for burning away stubborn minute feathers, hair and down which remain on the surfaces of the poultry.

A single lever 83 is pivoted intermediate of its ends on a boss 84 formed within the housing ti by means of a pin 35. One end of the lever $3 is extended through an elongated slot 86 formed in the side of the housing l i. That outer end of the lever 33 is formed with an enlarged pad 37 against which ones finger can be rested for pivoting the lever. The corner 23 of the handle it is out ing brackets 92.

away, as previously referredto, togprovide-the necessary clearance for pivoting the lever 83.

Intermediate of its ends, the cross piece H bf the operator member 12 isformed with an enlargement 88 which carries a fixed pin 89 which in turn engages an elongated slot 90, see particularly Fig. 14, formed'in the inner end of the lever 83. Thus, when the lever 83 is pivoted about its pin the H-shaped operator member I2 will be moved laterally against the action of the spring i5. The ends of the end arm 12* ofthe operator member 12 on the side of the cross piece 12* engaged by the springs 15, are supported for horizontal sliding movement by being rested down in grooves 9| formed in complementarysupport- The brackets 92 are formed integrally with the material of the'hollow housing 4!. The end arms 12* of the operator member '12 are retained in position within the grooves 9! by means of the extensions H; of the inner shutter plate $6.

Provided internally there is a mechanism for making a clicking sound to indicate when the operator member 12 has been first moved a sufficient distance to align the slots 51 and 68 and when the carrier 43 is in its pivoted position. That mechanism comprises a leaf spring 93 which has one end secured to the end wall of the housing 4| by several pins. The'other end of the leaf spring 93 is bent to engage complementary notches 94 formed in the outer side of the respective end arm 12 'of the operator member '52, see Fig. 9.

Basically the manner of using the modified singeing device of Figs. '1 to 15 is the same as that described for Figs. 1 to 6. However, the open side of the housing 4! of the modified device is closed by theshutter plates 65 and 65. To open that shutter to permit the device to be used, the lever 83 must first be pivoted until the spring clicks into the next notch 94. 'The lever 83 by finger pressure is held in that position and the device used for burning away the minute feathers, hair and down as described in connection with the first form of the invention. If certain of the feathers, hair or down are-stubborn to remove, the lever 83 can be further pivoted until the spring 93 clicks into the next notch '95 causing the carrier 43 to be pivoted against the action of the spring 58 to move one side of the resistance element 45 closer to the open side of the housing M to more effectively burn away the stubborn minute feathers, hair and down. When the finger pressure on the lever 83 is released, the springs 75 will immediately move the operator member '12 back to its starting position releasing the carrier 43 to bepivoted back to its starting position by the spring 58 and moving the inner shutter plate 66 back to its closed position. Thus, the resistance element 4% is completely enclosed except at such times when finger pressure is applied to the outer-end of the lever 83 pivoting the same. This prevents the fingers of the hand from coming accidentally in contact with the hot resistance element if the singeing device is placed down with the current turned on.

It is appreciated,'that the spring 93 could be duplicated at the other end of the operator member i2 with those springs being made strong enough to overcome the action of the springs 75 and so hold the operator member I2 in any one of its shifted positions. However, it is preferred that the springs 93 be merely used for producing the clicking sounds to indicate the desired positions of the operator member 12. Also, with the springs 93 functioning to hold the operator member 12, the springs could be completely eliminated, if desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise method herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing,

said carrier having an open side facing and in spaced parallel relation to the open side of said housing, means for pivoting the carrier, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, means for pivoting the carrier, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, and projections formed on certain of said walls and extended partially across said passages holding said resistance element in position in said passage.

3. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a shutter closing the open side of said housing, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open'side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, and manually movable control means operable on a first movement thereof to open said shutter and upon a further movement thereof to pivot said carrier.

4. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a shutter closing the open side of said housing, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, said shutter comprising superimposed shutter plates closing the open side of said housing, one of said shutteer plates being fixed and having elongated slots aligned with the passage of said carrier and the other of said shutter plates being movable and having spaced slots normally out of alignment with the slots of said fixed shutter plate and manually movable control means operable on a first movement to move said movable shuttter plates and upon a further movement to pivot said carrier.

5. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a shutter closing the open side of said housing, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, said shutter comprising superimposed shutter plates closing the open side of said housing, one of said shutter plates being fixed and having elongated slots aligned with the passage of said carrier and the other of said shutter plates being movableand having spaced slots normally out of alignment with the slots of said fixed shutter plate, said movable shutter being positioned inward of said fixed shutter and having inwardly extended extensions and manually movable control means engaged with said extensions and including camming means cooperable with said carrier whereby upon a first movement of said control means said movable shutter is moved to align the slots of said shutter plates and upon a further movement of the control means the carrier is caused by said camming means to pivot.

6. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing ofi a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, and means including a slidably supported spring urged H- shaped operator member and a pivotally mounted manually operable lever for moving said operator member against the action of its springs, said member having cams, and complementary cams mounted on said carrier for engagement by said first cams for pivoting the same, upon operating said lever.

7. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a shutter closing the open side of said housing, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing ofi a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, control means having a first and second movement and adapted upon the first movement thereof to open said shutter and upon the second movement thereof to pivot said carrier, means connecting said control means to said shutter and cam means on the control means engageable with complementary cam means on the carrier, and spring means audibly operable by said control means upon each movement of the latter.

8. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, and trunnions extending from the ends of said carrier in end alignment with each other, and pins extending from the outer ends of said trunnions and engaging complementary holes formed in the end walls of said housing.

9. A poultry singeing device comprising a handle containing a pair of spaced contact sockets exposed at one end of said handle, a hollow housing arranged in end alignment with the said one end of said handle, said housing having an open side for engagement against the poultry being singed, spaced contact springs mounted through the end wall of said housing adjacent the said one end of said handle for insertion into said contact sockets, and an elongated resistance element positioned within said hollow housing and having its ends connected to said contact prongs, and a carrier pivotally mounted within said housing and adapted to pivot on an axis extended longitudinally of said housing, said carrier having an open side facing the open side of said housing, and spaced longitudinally extending walls formed in said carrier dividing off a serpentine passage in which said resistance element is positioned, and trunnions extending from the ends of said carrier in end alignment with each other, and pins extending from the outer ends of said trunnions and engaging complementary holes formed in the end walls of said housing, the pin of one of said trunnions being resiliently mounted to be pushed inward for disengagement from its respective hole of said housing freeing said carrier to be removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 734,353 Nettleton et a1. July 21, 1903 1,013,327 Smith Jan. 2, 1912 1,523,626 Armstrong Jan. 20, 1925 1,534,689 Cooper Apr. 21, 1925 1,720,512 Cuffe July 9, 1929 1,881,262 Conradty Oct. 4, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,805 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1928 225,016 Switzerland June 1, 1943 

